A conclusive notification issued by the Union health ministry underlines a compulsory requirement for tobacco products to carry warning messages on their packs. Further, the statutory warnings should not occupy less than 40% of the available space on tobacco wrappings.

The notification makes it clear that the pictorial warnings need to be changed every year. Cigarette and bidi packs are required to carry the warning “Smoking Kills” and smokeless or chewing tobacco products “Tobacco Kills.” While the aforementioned warnings need to be visible in white font against a red background, any other specified health message must be displayed in bold black font set off by a white background.

The notification clarifies: “Each health warning has been specified in English and regional languages. Not more than two languages can be used on a single pack. Every person engaged directly or indirectly in the production, supply, import and distribution of tobacco products should ensure that every package has the specified health warning. The warnings will have to occupy 40% of the principal display area of the pack. None of the elements of the specified warning are severed, covered or hidden in any manner when the packet is sealed. No package can be sold unless it carries the health warnings.”

According to experts, mild pictorial warnings are unlikely to potently deter tobacco enthusiasts. Anbumani Ramadoss, Health minister, is more inclined to the idea of pictorial warnings displaying distressful images of debilitating conditions induced by tobacco use as a means of scaring away addicts. According to Poonam Singh, deputy director of WHO, SE Asia: “Ill effects of smoking appear slowly. So unless diseases like tuberculosis and lung cancer strike, people don’t accept that smoking is dangerous.”